STABILIZATION ACT INFORMATION - $$$ FOR HOME BUYERS

Money for your buyers....to help close the sale! Seating is limited. . .Please sign up today. Date: This Tuesday, March 17 Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Association Office 23407 Park Avenue Georgetown, DE 19947 It's coming, and you need to understand how to help your buyers obtain additional mortgage assistance towards their purchase. Brad Whaley and Brandy Bennett will explain the new Sussex County Housing program allocating $1.9 million to home buyers of foreclosed property. Learn the requirements, dollar amounts available per buyer, and ask questions so you can get houses sold and your buyers into a home. It's a tough market, but stimulus dollars are now at the local level. Help your buyers benefit.

The session is FREE ~ Just your RSVP is required >>

 

GREEN DESIGNATION

Sussex County Association of REALTORS® presents the 3 day Green Designation course. Earn this valuable NAR designation and watch your earnings increase. Class dates: May 27, 28 and 29 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily 1 hour lunch break (must attend all 3 days in full to receive designation) Pay only $90 for the entire course, less than NAR charges at the midyear convention. This course also counts as an Elective course for the ABR Designation and 2 credits towards the RSPS Certification. Earn 9 CE for re-licensing plus learn the following: Green buildings concepts, principles and practices Marketing to the green consumer Potential cost savings of green features The significance of LEED, Energy Star, and other rating systems Regulatory issues, zoning and building codes as they relate to sustainability Support with referrals, marketing tools and consumer awareness campaigns Advising clients seeking qualified "green" professionals Sustainable communities and land planning Green living: housekeeping, energy efficiency and air quality Greening your business practices Accolades Grow for NAR's Green Designation Read all about it here >>

Register to earn YOUR Green Designation here >>

 

Class Graduates of "Home from Work" We Need YOU!

You attended the class last September....We told you we'd follow up with an outreach to area employers.... This is your chance to brush up, because the time is coming....Soon!!! Please plan to attend an update on the Home From Work program, and the upcoming events planned. Class update: April 7, 4 - 6 p.m. at SCAOR (review by instructor Ruth King, non-credit preparation for outreach) Email tracylee@scaor.com to be included in the class reunion!

Click here to view photos from last night's event >>

 
 

Earn Legislative Update and Agent Core Required CE in One Day! This Wednesday, March 18 BACK-TO-BACK, DOUBLE OPPORTUNITY for REQUIRED CE and a NEW offering, Intro to Office Leasing!
9 am - Noon	Legislative Update - Almost Sold Out! 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Legislative Update) Real Estate Concepts 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Agent Core)
1 pm - 4 pm	Landlord Tenant Code (Legislative Update) 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Legislative Update) Real Estate Concepts 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Agent Core)
5 pm - 8 pm	Intro to Office Leasing 3 CE hours - approved by DREC
Register for multiple classes here >>

Join the midyear bus trip to visit YOUR elected officials on Capitol Hill.

SCAOR heads over to our nation's capitol on May 13. The bus will depart from SCAOR at 7:30 a.m. sharp. This will allow time to visit the NAR Expo with vendors eager to help REALTORS^® increase sales. After lunch, we will head to Capitol Hill and arrive before 2 p.m. to meet with your Senators and Representative. The bus will depart at approximately 4:15 p.m. from the Capitol and return to SCAOR around 6:30 p.m.

For a $15 RPAC donation, you can share the ride, visit the Expo, and express your most pressing REALTOR^® concerns to your legislators.

 
 

2009 SCHEDULE - More March CE Opportunities Non-resident licensees in Maryland are required to complete 15 continuing education credits by April 30, 2009. Agent Licensing Renewal Requirements: 3 CE Real Estate Concepts (agent/salesperson core) 3 CE Legislative Update, plus another 9 credit hours. Broker Licensing Renewal Requirements: 6 CE Broker Core plus another 9 credit hours. Just register for the classes you need at www.thescaorstore.com. DATE TIME CLASS Monday, March 16 9 am - Noon Intro to Commercial Real Estate 3 CE hours - approved by DREC Wednesday, March 18 9 am - Noon Legislative Update 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Legislative Update) 9 am - Noon Real Estate Concepts 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Agent Core) 1 pm - 4 pm Real Estate Concepts 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Agent Core) 1 pm - 4 pm Landlord Tenant Code (Legislative Update) 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Legislative Update) 5 pm - 8 pm Intro to Office Leasing 3 CE hours - approved by DREC Friday, March 20 9 am - 4 pm Broker's Core 6 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course for Brokers, Elective for Agents 9 am - 4 pm Investing in Commercial Real Estate 6 CE hours - approved by DREC Saturday, March 21 9 am - Noon Obtaining & Retaining Listings in a Tough Market 3 CE hours - approved by DREC 1 pm - 4 pm Closing Techniques That Open the Door to Success 3 CE hours - approved by DREC Monday, March 23 9 am - Noon Staging: Helping Sellers Achieve Maximum Sales Price (A Marketing Tool) 3 CE hours - approved by DREC 1 pm - 4 pm Running your Real Estate Career as a Business 3 CE hours - approved by DREC 5 pm - 8 pm Basic Math for Real Estate Salesmen 3 CE hours - approved by DREC Tuesday, March 24 9 am - Noon Real Estate Concepts 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Agent Core) 1 pm - 4 pm Legislative Update 3 CE hours - approved DREC mandatory course (Legislative Update) Full Class Schedule at www.scaorstore.com >>

An $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that does not require repayment is now available for the purchase of a principal residence during 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Taxpayers who qualify have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year.

See details of the $8,000 Tax Credit at realtor.org >>
Read the IRS news release on special tax filing option >>

 

Profiling the Buyer What does Ronnie REALTOR® mean by "profiling the buyer"? I thought that was discriminatory! Well it is, if you profile a person based on the federal and state protected classes. But I'm not talking about that kind of profiling. This profiling will help you better market and SELL those listings. Learn from some examples here >>

"Right tools....Right now!" NAR is offering valuable tools that will help you in your daily efforts - today!

Visit realtor.org for classes, the 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a FREE "It's a Great Time to Buy" brochure, and more tools available to help NAR members sell homes in this market.

Available at REALTOR.org right now >>

How do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled in last week's Case Study?
Below is the Hearing Panel's decision.

Case #10-4: Use of "Choose Your Neighbor" Marketing Letters

• Earn competitive pay
• Get paid weekly
• Work flexible hours
• Receive paid training
• Reimbursement for authorized mileage and expenses
• Help your community have a successful 2010 Census

By now, you have heard about part 1 of the VOW requirement: Seller Opt Out Forms. We will be sending information to each Participant and have an explanation available to help you explain the form to your client.

Part II is for Participants only. Each Participant (Broker of Record) will need to review the definition of "Participant" to determine if they are in fact able to offer and accept compensation. If not, the Participant would no longer qualify to MLS membership after May 27, 2009. Consequently, if the Participant is going to offer and accept compensation they do not need to take any action.

Full Listing of March 16, 2009 through April 20, 2009
Delaware Planning News & Meetings >>

HUD Announces Changes to FHA Single Family Loan Limits - effective for 2009

As a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, HUD published changes to FHA's single family loan limits. Given that most of the loan limits decreased for 2009, most areas will revert to the higher 2008 mortgage limit.  Read more >>

 
Appraisal Requirements Change for GSE mortgages - effective May 1, 2009
New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government sponsored enterprises) announced the final agreement of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) on December 23, 2009, to change appraiser selection criteria that will help eliminate conflicts of interest on mortgage appraisals. The agreement has the support of the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA).

The requirements will have a significant impact on appraisal practices by lenders as they will have to comply with the new requirements agreed-to by the government sponsored enterprises (GSE) if the lenders sell mortgages to the GSEs. The GSEs have agreed to implement the HVCC beginning May 1, 2009.  Read more >>

 
 

A P R I L
2	Procuring Cause - 3 CE course	9 am - noon
	Real Estate Concepts - Agent Core 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
4	NAR Ethics - NAR Ethics 3 CE course	9 am - noon
	Business Planning - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
6	Communications for Real Estate Agents - 3 CE course	9 am - noon
	CMA versus Appraisal - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
7	Septic Training - 3 CE course	9 am - noon
	Environmental Issues & the Home Inspection - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
9	Affiliate Meeting	9 am
10	Good Friday - SCAOR office Closed
13	Landlord Tenant Code - Legislative Update 3 CE course	9 am - noon
	Legislative Update - Legislative Update 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
15	Rental Affairs Meeting	8 am
	IRS Personal Taxes Filing Deadline
16	Financing in a Tight Market	1 - 4 pm
	Title Search - 3 CE course	5 - 8 pm
22	DAR Board of Directors Meeting at Dover Downs	1 pm
23	At Home with Diversity - 3 CE course	1 - 4 pm
M A Y
11-16	NAR Midyear Meetings and Trade Show in Washington, DC FREE to all REALTORS®! Schedule and registration now online.
13	Capitol Hill Visit	2 pm
	Sign up for the Bus Ride	7:30 am - 6:30 pm
19-20	GRI 201: Financial Fundamentals at DAR	8 am - 5 pm
20	Rental Affairs Meeting	8 am
21	Board of Directors	9 am
	Government Affairs Meeting	3 pm
25	Memorial Day - SCAOR and DAR Offices Closed